At least one of the properties on the blighted property list released earlier this month by Mayor Gabriel J. Campana to publicly "shame" their owners may not have belonged there.
The property in question has been renovated and code compliant for at least two years, according to its owners.
Monday, Theresa Summerson described herself as "thoroughly upset" the mayor included both her husband Frank's name and their property at 653 Wildwood Blvd. on his listed of blighted structures.
According to Summerson, her husband purchased the property on the list in 2006 and renovated it in 2007. "It's in excellent shape," she said.
Summerson said they "never received a letter" or any other notice about the property being on a blighted list and "have never had any (code) issues with the property."
"Frankly, we care about this property as well as the four others we own in Williamsport," she added.
Summerson said she talked with the mayor Monday morning and was told her complaint would be addressed, but she remained unhappy with the overall situation.
"I would call this public finger pointing (and) defamation of character and would be interested to know the criteria for our making the list," she told the Sun-Gazette in an e-mail. "Perhaps the mayor needs to be more aware of the information he is receiving and its accuracy before naming names in a public forum."
Campana responded to Summerson's comments Monday by naming Codes Administrator Joseph Gerardi as the source of the names and properties on the list he released and posted on the city's website.
Campana has several times over the past week and a half promised to crack down on and shame what he termed as "deviant" landlords and property owners.
Monday, he promised Gerardi would look at the Summerson property today. "If there was an error by the codes department, an apology is in order," the mayor added.
Gerardi was not working Monday, according to the mayor.
